Alii Ocean Tours
Alii Ocean Tours
5
Scuba & SnorkellingSwim with DolphinsPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view

About
Premier Snorkel Tours, Dolphin Experiences, Fully customizable Private Charters, and Whale Watching. Our Premier Ocean Experience in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii will go above and beyond your highest expectations. Revel in our 5-Star Service. Welcome Aboard Hoku 'Elima, our 38 foot luxury snorkel vessel, equipped with state of the art Volvo Penta engines, restroom facility and all the gear you will need. It is the perfect combination of speed and comfort.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
351 reviews
Excellent
336
Very good
7
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
2
8traveling5
New York City, NY247 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Book with this company! My family of five, which includes three boys from 10 to 15, did a private 3-hour tour yesterday morning and the big five group tour today. We can’t say enough good things about the crew. Ryan, the captain, is wonderful and kept us all entertained—and she can spot wildlife from yards away as she’s driving the boat. I have no clue how she does it! Anna jumped right into the water with my family each time we snorkeled, which put this mom completely at ease. Brenna was part of the crew yesterday and she was awesome too! We saw pods and pods of dolphins, mantas, a white tip reef shark, an oceanic reef shark, turtles, and a million fish. They provided sunscreen, snacks, and even a gluten free lunch for me, which was greatly appreciated. I know seeing as much as we did and being paired with another family today who was absolutely lovely was pure luck, but even if we hadn’t seen as much as we did, I can assure anyone that we would have had just as great a time on this boat because of the crew. Thank you for making my boys’ days! And a big thank you to the owner who was so accommodating with an unanticipated schedule change. Marylyn did not need to be as gracious as she was, especially during this busy season. Her kindness shows me that she is concerned about her customers and takes great pride in her company. We wish we could give you ten stars and will recommend you to anyone we know who visits the big island. We can’t wait to come back!
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa H
Portland, OR21 contributions
Nov 2021 • Family
Wow! We’ve been to Kona many times and have done several snorkel tours. This was by far the best. The boat was spacious and they limit the amount of passengers for your comfort. The crew (Ryan and Jeanette) were top notch. They provided snacks, drinks, towels, sunscreen, and education about Kona and the sea life. We saw dolphins, sharks, fish, and so much more. Jeanette got in the water with us twice and helped us have a close encounter with the dolphins and reef shark. This tour may cost more than some but if you want to avoid the crowds and have a more intimate experience this is it. We will definitely book again on our next trip to Kona!
Written November 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shawnna C
Island of Hawaii, HI29 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Captain McKinsey and her spotter Erin gave us a great day out for an amazing whale watching trip. They were very prompt, friendly, and helpful. They were in constant communication with other boat captains about active spots to check out. McKinsey especially gave the impression that she enjoyed the trip as much as we all did. We saw LOTS of great whale activity. Two males fighting, one large whale breach and one baby breach, as well as the baby's giant mother. Also dolphins and turtles. It was a great trip!
Written January 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack A
Edmonton, Canada4 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We had a wonderful trip with the team! The team was very knowledgeable about the marine life in the area and interested in making our trip the best! We saw so many fish, whales and turtles that it was amazing. It started off great with early sightings of turtles and spinner dolphins, then it got better. We were cruising along and saw mahi-mahi jumping and then soon after some manta rays at the surface. We stopped and dove into a once in a lifetime experience, swimming with manta rays. We saw five in total, four males and one female. The best part was that they came closer to see us. Wow! They are big! Further down the coast we stopped at K-Bay to snorkel in amongst all the amazing coral and reef fish. On the way back we had the opportunity to see the spinner dolphins again, pilot whales, some interesting geological formations along the coast and Kailua-Kona from boat. What a great day! Thanks to the team and we hope to get back to enjoy another trip with Ali’i!
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawne C
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Family
Captain Ryan and Erin provided a great day on the ocean and even the extended our day because we saw so many dolphins and whales on our way to and from K Bay for some fabulous snorkelling. I would recommend the morning tour as the afternoon tours were filling up the bay as we left. I loved the small group and made some new friends!
Written February 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wolfordlisa
Brooklyn, NY7 contributions
Jan 2021
Captain Ryan and guide Erin were so great with our family!! The boat is awesome - it's large size is a plus given the length of the ride to K bay, and the option to go deeper in to the ocean to spot mammals (more on that later...)
We were greeted by Erin, who immediately memorized all 4 of our names. This is great because we established a rapport with her, but most importantly I felt it was a good safety practice since she was able to get the attention of my 12 year old twins on the boat and in the water.
The boat has very decent breakfast bars, juices as well as good deli sandwiches and chips for lunch. Cold, scented towels for the end of the trip were a nice touch.
However, by far the best thing about the trip was how much Ryan and Erin seemed to enjoy their jobs. On the way back from snorkeling, they got a text that another boat had spotted a rare whale shark. They raced to the site, despite the fact that our tour was technically over (we'd swum with dolphins, watched a whale and snorkeled), and ensured we all got in to experience something my kids and we will truly never forget.
I know the whale shark encounter was rare and technically we were very lucky, but it wouldn't have happened without the excitement, perseverance and guidance shown by Ryan and Erin.
Thank you Alii Ocean Tours for an unforgettable experience!!!
We were greeted by Erin, who immediately memorized all 4 of our names. This is great because we established a rapport with her, but most importantly I felt it was a good safety practice since she was able to get the attention of my 12 year old twins on the boat and in the water.
The boat has very decent breakfast bars, juices as well as good deli sandwiches and chips for lunch. Cold, scented towels for the end of the trip were a nice touch.
However, by far the best thing about the trip was how much Ryan and Erin seemed to enjoy their jobs. On the way back from snorkeling, they got a text that another boat had spotted a rare whale shark. They raced to the site, despite the fact that our tour was technically over (we'd swum with dolphins, watched a whale and snorkeled), and ensured we all got in to experience something my kids and we will truly never forget.
I know the whale shark encounter was rare and technically we were very lucky, but it wouldn't have happened without the excitement, perseverance and guidance shown by Ryan and Erin.
Thank you Alii Ocean Tours for an unforgettable experience!!!
Written January 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChrisN6
Denver, CO16 contributions
Jan 2021
My family of four (kids 7 and 12) went out on the morning manta/whale watch trip last Sat with Hugh, Sharkey, and Ryan. Amazing crew - fantastic service and they all learned our names right away, which was a nice touch. We immediately saw a pod of dolphins, then a whale a few minutes later. But we'd never swam with mantas before, especially in the daytime, and all four of us were able to swim with mantas multiple times at two different locations. It was a once in a lifetime experience we'll never forget. We also saw more whale pods along the way. All in all a fantastic experience with the marine animals, combined with truly wonderful service and a cool boat with great food/refreshments.
Written January 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMW
56 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
We had a great snorkel tour on kealakekua bay with alii tours. Friendly staff. It was a smaller boat which made it feel cosy. The boat ride was of similar smoothness when compared to some of the larger snorkel tour vessels.
Saw lots of fish while snorkeling.
Bonus : saw several spinner dolphin pods when we were leaving and returning to harbour , bottlenose dolphins swam with the boat when we were in the ocean and we saw a whale. The crew also does whale watch tours so they know what to look for.
One slight negative - the lunch was sandwiches, veggies, and fresh fruit. It was okay, but I’ve been in larger snorkel boats at the same site that provided a more extensive lunch buffet. Overall I’d recommend this company for the snorkel tour.
Saw lots of fish while snorkeling.
Bonus : saw several spinner dolphin pods when we were leaving and returning to harbour , bottlenose dolphins swam with the boat when we were in the ocean and we saw a whale. The crew also does whale watch tours so they know what to look for.
One slight negative - the lunch was sandwiches, veggies, and fresh fruit. It was okay, but I’ve been in larger snorkel boats at the same site that provided a more extensive lunch buffet. Overall I’d recommend this company for the snorkel tour.
Written February 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Attytraveler250
Irvine, CA19 contributions
Feb 2020
We, party of 5, had an experience of a lifetime. The water sells itself, but Sharky, Nicole and Erin made this a trip of a lifetime. Every single amenity made a routine snorkel trip into an amazing experience. Before getting on the boat, there is a like breakfast of muffins and fruit. The boat itself is very comfortable seating for all, with storage for personal items. As a retired Coast Guard veteran, I am always concerned with boat safety and this crew covered all bases.
Meanwhile we swam with the dolphins. These are wild dolphins so you won’t get a photo op with yourself and a grinning dolphin. They just swim near you and don’t pay attention to the nearby peso-left. Nicky and Erin will be in the water with the snorkelers and direct snorkelers to the best view. Both went out of their way to make sure snorkelers of all skill levels got to be in the path of the dolphins. Sharkey expertly keeps the boat on station with swimmers inthe water and the environment is very safe.
Snorkeling at Cooks cove is always a magic experience. We’ve been there a few times before, but Sharkey got us into a part of the reef I had not explored before and it was amazing. The number and type of fish are awesome. I have dived all over the world and this is my favorite experience. At times your re in 4 to 6 feet of water so teh fish are close up and easily visible.
On our way back we spent time with several humpback whales and their babies. Sharkey was very respectful of hte whales and ensured none were stressed by a nearby boat.
The lunch is a nice sandwiches in Hawaiian bread, chips fruit and sparkling water and soft drinks. As you get out of hte water, you can get a warm water wash down that is heavenly. Other nice touches include lavender scented towels and a nice chocolate macadamia nut. The crew is dedicated to ensuring a very safe and rewarding experience for snorkelers of all ages.
As I said, the waters off Kona sell themselves, but the the crew and entire operation of Ali’i Ocean Tours raises the adventure to an experience of a lifetime that you will never forget. This is a high end operation with a top notch crew that works hard but also are engaging and fun.
Do not miss this if you are vacationing in Kona!
Meanwhile we swam with the dolphins. These are wild dolphins so you won’t get a photo op with yourself and a grinning dolphin. They just swim near you and don’t pay attention to the nearby peso-left. Nicky and Erin will be in the water with the snorkelers and direct snorkelers to the best view. Both went out of their way to make sure snorkelers of all skill levels got to be in the path of the dolphins. Sharkey expertly keeps the boat on station with swimmers inthe water and the environment is very safe.
Snorkeling at Cooks cove is always a magic experience. We’ve been there a few times before, but Sharkey got us into a part of the reef I had not explored before and it was amazing. The number and type of fish are awesome. I have dived all over the world and this is my favorite experience. At times your re in 4 to 6 feet of water so teh fish are close up and easily visible.
On our way back we spent time with several humpback whales and their babies. Sharkey was very respectful of hte whales and ensured none were stressed by a nearby boat.
The lunch is a nice sandwiches in Hawaiian bread, chips fruit and sparkling water and soft drinks. As you get out of hte water, you can get a warm water wash down that is heavenly. Other nice touches include lavender scented towels and a nice chocolate macadamia nut. The crew is dedicated to ensuring a very safe and rewarding experience for snorkelers of all ages.
As I said, the waters off Kona sell themselves, but the the crew and entire operation of Ali’i Ocean Tours raises the adventure to an experience of a lifetime that you will never forget. This is a high end operation with a top notch crew that works hard but also are engaging and fun.
Do not miss this if you are vacationing in Kona!
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really appreciate you choosing to tour with Ali'i Ocean Tours and for all of the kind words for the Captain and crew. They work hard to ensure that you can have the best experience available for snorkeling and seeing other marine life. Thank you for taking the time to do this review.
Written February 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Don W
Lincoln, NE9 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
We had a great experience with Ali’s Ocean Tours on their Whale Watching trip on Saturday February 5th. We were greeted with smiles and were quickly ushered to our boat and out on the water. It wasn’t long before we saw several group of false killer whales (which are actually a species of dolphins). After learning about these creatures we continued up the coast, We saw more dolphins and then came upon several humpback whales. We got to see several of them up close jumping and splashing in the water. The crew then lowered the sonar into the water and we could hear the whales singing.
It was a great experience. The crew was wonderful. Always making sure to take care of the passengers and teach us about the whales and their environment. We would highly recommend Ali’s Ocean Tours.
It was a great experience. The crew was wonderful. Always making sure to take care of the passengers and teach us about the whales and their environment. We would highly recommend Ali’s Ocean Tours.
Written February 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
we have a party of 10 people and have taken one of your tour yesterday. we need more information of private charter
Written February 7, 2020
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.